Amazon doesn't care that fans hate

The series disappoints fans. Perhaps that’s the plan.

As we know, fans are one of the hardest ingredients for entertainment companies to manage and predict. Their vicious campaigns of direct harassment of stars or directors, social media discrediting, and review bombing can ruin series, video games, and films that would have had better careers in another era.

Crystal Generation. The analysis of the fan phenomenon and its current relationship with franchises (Marvel, ‘The Lord of the Rings’, ‘Star Wars’) that received unconditional support is beyond the scope of this article. Please note that while fans have always been a pressure group (from the first fan fictions of series like ‘Star Trek’ to communication through media like readers’ mail sections of comics and magazines), they have never had the impact they do today thanks to the Internet.

Is there much? If that impact matters is another question. Again, it’s hard to quantify: ‘The Acolyte’ was cancelled due to fan opposition, but is that the real reason? The ratings were good, but can we blame the fans for Disney’s big decision, which has no problem remaking ‘The Little Mermaid’ with an African-American protagonist? Because’The Boys” openly progressive message (which it has always had, but many seem to have realised now) was rejected in its last season, and the show still has high ratings. How much does this fan base shape series, films, and games?

‘The Rings of Power’ case. ‘The Rings of Power’ is possibly the most openly rejected series by anti-woke activists, as shown by its low Rotten Tomatoes scores, which led Amazon to close the scores on IMDB and Prime Video. Amazon believes season 2 audiences will grow enough, though there are no official figures. Despite negative press, Amazon is proceeding with its expensive proposal.

Why so much hate? Fans rejected ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power‘ for the same reasons they rejected other series for including progressive policies. These policies contradict Tolkien’s novels, from multiracial and inclusive casts to female leads. These complaints ignore the fact that Tolkien’s work dates back to the 1950s, with all its inherited prejudices, but the series has also sparked protests for more circumstantial “betrayals” of the original: characters and settings that don’t match what Tolkien narrated or how Amazon fills in the “blank spaces” left by the author.

Perhaps that’s the plan. The series may not be made for fans, which fans haven’t considered. Amazon may need to reach beyond Tolkien fans to recoup its $400 million season costs. They’re numerous, but fewer than fantasy and adventure fans and blockbuster viewers.

No one is left out. An exaggerated but relevant example: Disney creates Marvel and Star Wars-inspired animated series for preschoolers that betray the franchises’ canon. Official products, but fans ignore them. Why? Because they’re not products for them; they’re for younger audiences who don’t mind representation quotas or strong women.

Story fragmented. Something similar could happen with ‘The Rings of Power’. That is why Tolkien’s novels openly betray their narrative structure, which may be outdated for viewers familiar with current series. The series’ choral and fragmented narrative and small mysteries that are resolved as the action progresses create a cliffhanger structure unlike Tolkien’s books.

Main villain. The second season of ‘The Rings of Power’ is most appealing because Sauron is the main character after being a MacGuffin in the first. Tolkien would have rejected these modern narrative structures (for not portraying the villain as evil, which would have violated his Catholic beliefs). It is the most innovative and intriguing part of this second season.

Should we betray the fan? We like series that sabotage their most hated fans, but it’s unnecessary. As is obvious, taking a radical opposite position and writing fandom-honoring stories is not necessary. Sauron’s sinister imagery and ambiguous tone in the first episodes of the second season have boosted interest in ‘Rings of Power’. They could have rolled some fans’ heads to get this.

Amazon doesn’t care that fans hate

The series disappoints fans. Perhaps that’s the plan.

By ki0nk

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